28 THE HORSE. 



he could be even led back to town ] The parade 

 horse again can merely continue his artificial or high 

 action for about ten minutes at a time, and this 

 repeated three or four times, is a hard day's work. 

 These remarks will also serve to show, as in our obser- 

 vations on the pace of the horse, that only a certain 

 degree of exertion can be used with impunity; or 

 the capability of repeating such muscular efforts at 

 short intervals would be impossible, without serious 

 injury. Nor can what has been already said, in a 

 preceding page, be too often or too earnestly im- 

 pressed on all persons entrusted with the care of 

 horses, who appreciate their usefulness, or who 

 would preserve their value. Leave the action of 

 the horse to himself, or, in other words, to nature. 

 Lord Pembroke, in his admirable work on Horse- 

 manship, says, " When you are going a journey, 

 care not how the horse carries himself, so that 

 he does but carry you ;" and this he addresses to 

 horsemen, adding, " When they have time to play 

 with their horses, is the time to attend to the animal's 

 carriage." How much more necessary, therefore, 

 is it that men of business should bear this advice in 

 mind ; for it cannot be expected that they should 

 have the same knowledge of horses as men who 

 have been almost cradled in the stable, have made 

 the subject their constant study, and have had 

 abundant opportunities to acquire experience. 



FOOD. 



It will be found more economical in the way of 

 food to use old horses, in preference to young ones. 

 The horse is not properly set and framed until he is 

 eight years of age. He, therefore, before that age, 

 requires support, not only for his daily wear and 

 tear, but also for his gi'owth. Neither do all horses 

 require, as is too generally supposed, feeding alike^ 



